المعنى الاصطلاحي

When a competent person for religious assignment intentionally abandons the obligatory prayer until its due time is over.

الشرح المختصر

"Tark as-Salaah" (abandonment of prayer). Prayer is the foundation of religion and the greatest pillar of Islam after the two testimonies of faith. Whoever observes the prayer is the real happy person, whereas anyone who abandons and neglects it is the real doomed person. In several verses in the Qur’an, Allah ordered us to maintain and establish the prayer. Deliberate abandonment of the obligatory prayers is among the gravest major sins that expose one to the punishment, wrath and disgrace of Allah in this world and the Hereafter. Deliberate abandonment of prayer is of two types: 1. Abandonment of prayer coupled with denial of its being an obligation, and this is considered Kufr (disbelief). 2. Abandonment of prayer out of neglecting and laziness until the time of the next prayer becomes due, and this is also considered disbelief based on explicit and clear evidences, and this is the opinion of Jaabir and other Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, as have been reported from them in authentic reports. None of the Companions opposed this opinion, and a number of scholars mentioned consensus of the Companions in this regard. As for the abandonment of prayer out of forgetfulness or sleep until its time passes, it is excusable by the favor of Allah, the Almighty. However, the missed prayers must be made up for as soon as remembered. The same applies to the prayers that are deliberately abandoned because of a Shariah-approved excuse.